Homelessness In Our Community

Threats of severe temperatures and hunger —
that’s what more than 1,200 children, women and men may face again
today. Homelessness is a real problem in the Fairfax County-Falls Church
community.

These numbers come from an annual Fairfax-Falls Church community survey.
This Point-in-Time survey will give you a comprehensive look on the
homeless population in our community. Read the 2014 Point-in-Time
Countfor more details. Other data provided by the
National Low Income Housing Coalition’s “Out of Reach 2014” report.

People in families
accounted for 57 percent of all persons counted. The majority of people without homes in our community are children
and working families.

Thirty-three percent of all persons who were homeless were
children under the age of 18.

Seventy-eight percent of the adults in homeless families are
female.

Fifty-nine percent of adults in families that were homeless were
employed.

Sixty-two percent of the homeless people in families were in a
transitional housing program. Thirty-eight percent were being provided
emergency shelter.

Single individuals
represent 43 percent of the total number of persons counted. One-hundred and ninety-six adults were chronically homeless
individuals.

Eight percent of the single adults were reported as veterans, compared
to nine percent in 2013.

Seventy-three percent of the homeless individuals were male, the same
percentage as in past years.

Twenty-four percent of single individuals who were homeless were
employed, a slight increase from 22 percent in 2013.

We are home to the second
largest number of people without homes
It might surprise you, but the second largest number of people who are
homeless in our region live in the Fairfax-Falls Church community. Only
in Washington, D.C., are there more people without homes.

Lack ofaffordable
housing is a national concern and it's the main cause of homelessness in
Fairfax County Low incomes and expensive housing are the main reasons for
homelessness in our community. It is impossible to pay for an apartment
when earning minimum wage — even if you work 24 hours per day, 7 days a
week:

Monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment is nearly $1,500.

A family must earn $28.25 an hour to afford a two-bedroom apartment.

A family must earn an annual income of $58,760 to afford a two-bedroom
apartment.

Domestic violence,
physical disabilities and poor health are also reasons
The Point-in-Time survey on homelessness says:

Thirty-three percent of all persons in families were homeless due to
domestic violence, an increase from 27 percent in 2013.

Fifty-five percent of single individuals who were homeless suffered
from serious mental illness and/or substance abuse, a slight decrease
from 57 percent in 2013, and many had chronic health problems and/or
physical disabilities.